IRGC launches large-scale military drills near border with Pakistan

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

• President Hassan Rouhani says Iran and Italy have agreed to expand cooperation in fighting terrorism. Speaking at a press conference with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in Tehran, Rouhani said Tehran and Rome also agreed to work together to help resolve the Middle East conflicts, including those in Syria and Yemen.
• The ground forces of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps have launched large-scale military drills near the border with Pakistan. The three-day drills dubbed 'Great Prophet' cover areas across four provinces in Iran’s southeast. Top commanders have said the exercises are aimed at maintaining the military units’ combat readiness.
• A Russian official says Moscow has made the first delivery of the S-300 missile defense system to Iran. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin didn’t specify how many missiles have already been delivered. Tehran and Moscow have signed a new contract on the delivery of the S-300 system.
• Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian says a political resolution of the Syrian crisis is in sight. Amir Abollahian made the remark during a meeting with UN Special Envoy for Syria Staphan De Mistura in Tehran. The Iranian diplomat added that Syria peace talks have entered a new phase.
• President Bashar al-Assad says a federal system in Syria cannot be considered an option to settle the disputes and will only destroy the country. Assad made the comment while meeting a group of Russia lawmakers. He also warned that dividing Syria into smaller regions under the control of extremist groups would pose a great threat to the world.
• A report says police in the US city of Chicago have used violence on hundreds of detainees at a warehouse known as Homan Square. Documents obtained by British newspaper 'The Guardian' show how police officers used punches, knee strikes, elbow strikes, slaps, wrist twists, baton blows and Tasers at the site.
• The UN World Food Program expresses grave concern over the dire food situation for Iraqi civilians trapped in the Daesh-held city of Fallujah. According to the UN agency, the situation is likely to deteriorate unless aid gets to the city.
• Iraqi forces have recaptured two areas in the western city of Hit from Daesh terrorists. Military sources say the Iraqi troops, backed by Popular Mobilization Forces, are set to clear the entire city from Daesh in the near future. The Iraqi troopers entered the city about a week ago in a major operation.

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